Bahamian goalkeeper Dwayne Whylly (centre) charges in to take the ball ahead of Jamaica's Tyrone Marshall (left) and the Bahamas captain Happy Hall (right) in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on Sunday, June 15. - file

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is reporting that it lost just over $300,000 in the last three international games staged in Jamaica, which will force it to take stern decisions to ensure profitability, including cutting the number of overseas-based players in the squad.

Last month, the Reggae Boyz played a friendly against St Vincent and the Grenadines and two World Cup qualifiers against The Bahamas.

The JFF broke down the figures for all three games combined as follows:

	Rental of National	$3,355,750

Stadium and Trelawny

Complex

	Airfare	$2,735,001

	Hotel accommodation	$2,500,991

	Match Fees	$14,035,950

	Other operational costs	$ 7,068,268

(security, ticket coordination/

printing, ushers, public address,

match day workers/meals)

Following the disclosure of the figures by JFF treasurer Gary Sinclair, the JFF's board of directors discussed several options to save money, including "recommending the reduction of overseas-based professionals in the squad". The board also discussed increasing ticket prices and the need to have the stadium full at all home games.

A release to the media from the JFF on Saturday read: "The board of directors, at an emergency meeting held on June 25, 2008, noted that this loss position would force the federation to take some harsh, but necessary, decisions for the upcoming qualifiers.

"The board was advised by the treasurer that the figures would have shown a more significant loss if most of the overseas players had not travelled on their own ticket for the holidays. Hence, it can be expected that this line item could be tripled for the upcoming matches."

With Jamaica's first match of the second round of the World Cup qualifiers scheduled for August 20 in Toronto, Canada, the JFF faces more staggering expenses, with away games expected to cost about $25 million each.

The federation estimated the costs at:

	Airfares	$10,780,000
	Hotel accommodation & meals	$4,500,000
	Match incentives	$9,100,000

The release went on to say that the JFF must maximise its profitability with home games as it has five other national teams with immediate needs.

"The board examined the figures against the background of five other national teams being in training and soon to enter international competition. These teams are the national Under-15, 17 and 20 men and the national Under-15 and 17 women. The federation will have to fund airfare costs for these teams who have been in training over the past three months."